The present invention relates to road safety apparatus. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to road safety apparatus for reducing the risk of collisions between vehicles and cyclists.

Cycling is popular not only for leisure but increasingly also for travel to and from work due to the costs associated with road and rail travel. The number of cyclists of all ages using the roads continues to grow presenting ever increasing risks of collisions between cyclists and other road users, especially vehicles. Such collisions can result in serious injury to or even death of cyclists. This can be a particular problem in slow moving traffic when a vehicle suddenly changes direction, for example when changing lanes or turning to the left or right. Thus, the driver may not be aware of the presence of a cyclist alongside the vehicle, for example due to the cyclist being in blind spot, that is, an area of the road that cannot be seen while looking in the side view mirrors. Vehicle rear quarter blind spots, that is, areas towards the rear of the vehicle on both sides, present a particular problem for drivers of vehicles, especially long vehicles such as buses, coaches, trucks, vans, lorries.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing and seeks to provide road safety apparatus that overcomes or at least mitigates the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide road safety apparatus for use with a vehicle, the apparatus including at least one sensor for mounting on a side of a vehicle for sensing the presence of a person within a detection zone along the side of the vehicle and for generating a signal in response thereto, and an audio device responsive to a signal from a sensor for generating an audible warning to the person to move away from the side of the vehicle.

A plurality of sensors may be provided for mounting on the side of the vehicle at positions spaced apart along the length of the vehicle. The sensors may be arranged in a single row at the same height. Alternatively, the sensors may be arranged in two or more rows where each row is at a different height and the sensors in a given row are at the same height. Where there are two or more rows of sensors, the number of sensors 12 in each row may be the same or different. Sensors 12 in different rows may be aligned vertically.

The or each sensor may be provided on one side of the vehicle only, for example the nearside or offside. Alternatively, at least one sensor may be provided on both sides of the vehicle.

The or each sensor may be an ultrasonic sensor or radar sensor operable to detect the presence of a person within a pre-determined distance from the side of the vehicle.

The or each sensor may be adjustable so that the pre-determined distance can be changed to provide a detection zone with any desired range along the side of the vehicle. The or each sensor may be set so that the range of the detection zone is substantially the same at all positions along the side of the vehicle.

Alternatively, the range of the detection zone may change along the side of the vehicle. A larger detection zone may be employed at a position including a blind spot so that the presence of a person within the blind spot can be detected. A smaller detection zone may be employed at a position that is visible to a driver of the vehicle directly or through a mirror. The apparatus may be activated in response to vehicle speed. The apparatus may be activated automatically at or below a pre-determined speed. For example, the apparatus may be activated if the vehicle speed is 10 mph or less. When activated, the presence of a person within the detection zone may be detected by at least one sensor that sends a signal to activate an audible warning that the person should move away from the side of the vehicle.

The signal may be transmitted by a wired or wireless connection. For example, a wireless radio frequency signal may be employed.

The audio device may broadcast a pre-recorded message in response to a signal from the sensor. The audio device may broadcast the message for a pre-set interval of time.

Alternatively, the audio device may broadcast the message as long as the person remains within the detection zone and stops broadcasting the signal when the person moves out of the detection zone. The or each sensor may be associated with a separate audio device. Alternatively, one or more sensors may be associated with a common audio device.

A visible warning may be provided in place of or in addition to the audible warning. The visual device such as a light may be switched on in response to a signal from the sensor. The visual device may be switched off after a preset interval of time.

Alternatively, the visual device may be switched on as long as the person remains within the detection zone and is switched off when the person moves out of the detection zone. The or each sensor may be associated with a separate visual device. Alternatively, one or more sensors may be associated with a common visual device.

The or each sensor may also send a signal to activate an audible warning to alert the driver of the vehicle of the presence of a person within the detection zone.

Alternatively or additionally, the audible warning may tell the driver to check the side view mirror on the side of the vehicle where the person has been detected.

The signal may be transmitted by a wired or wireless connection. For example, a wireless radio frequency signal may be employed. An audio device may be provided within the vehicle in the vicinity of the driver that broadcasts a pre-recorded message in response to a signal from any sensor.

Where at least one sensor is provided on each side of the vehicle, the audio device may distinguish between a signal from a sensor on one side of the vehicle and a signal from a sensor on the other side of the vehicle and broadcast the appropriate pre-recorded message.

Alternatively, an audio device may be provided for the or each sensor on one side of the vehicle and a separate audio device may be provided for the or each sensor on the other side of the vehicle.

The audio device may broadcast the message for a pre-set interval of time. Alternatively, the audio device may broadcast the message as long as the person remains within the detection zone and stops broadcasting the signal when the person moves out of the detection zone.

The driver may be provided with a visible warning of the presence of a person in the detection zone in place of or in addition to the audible warning.

A visual device such as a light may be provided that is switched on in response to a signal from a sensor. The visual device may be switched off after a pre-set interval of time.

Alternatively, the visual device may remain switched on as long as the person remains within the detection zone and is switched off when the person moves out of the detection zone. According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a vehicle having road safety apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention on at least one side of the vehicle.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a side view of a road vehicle provided with road safety apparatus according to the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the road vehicle shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a road vehicle 2 is shown provided with road safety apparatus comprising a system 4 for detecting the presence of a cyclist 6 within a detection zone 8 along the side of the vehicle 2 and providing an audible warning/instruction to the cyclist 6 to move away from the side of the vehicle 2. The term "cyclist" includes a person riding a pedal cycle, motor cycle, scooter and the like.

The system 4 preferably also provides an audible warning/instruction to the driver of the vehicle of the presence of the cyclist 6 and to check the side view mirror 10 on the side of the vehicle where the cyclist 6 has been detected.

The system 4 may be employed on any vehicle 2 including cars but is particularly suitable for use on longer vehicles such as buses, coaches and lorries. In this embodiment the system is shown on an articulated tractor/trailer unit.

The system 4 includes a plurality of sensors 12 arranged on the side of the vehicle 2 at positions spaced apart along the length of the vehicle 2.

The sensors 12 may be arranged in a single row at the same height. Alternatively, the sensors 12 may be arranged in two or more rows where each row is at a different height and the sensors 12 in a given row are at the same height. Where there is more than one row of sensors, the number of sensors 12 in each row may be the same or different. Sensors 12 in different rows may be aligned vertically. Other configurations of the sensors 12 are possible. Sensors 12 may be provided on one side of the vehicle only, for example the nearside or offside. Alternatively, sensors 12 may be provided on both sides of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the sensors 12 are shown arranged in a single row on each side of the vehicle 2. The sensors 12 may be ultrasonic sensors or radar sensors or any other suitable type of sensor operable to detect the presence of the cyclist 6 within a pre-determined distance from the side of the vehicle 2.

The sensors 12 may be adjustable so that the pre-determined distance covered by the sensors 12 can be changed to provide the detection zone 8 with any desired range along the side of the vehicle 2.

The range of the detection zone 8 may be set when the system is installed on the vehicle 2. It may be that changes to the detection zone 8 can only be carried by authorised personnel, for example a service engineer, to prevent unauthorised changes being made to the detection zone 8.

The sensors 12 may be set so that the range of the detection zone 8 is substantially the same at all positions along the side of the vehicle 2 as shown in Figure 2. This is not essential however, and it may be that the range of the detection zone 8 may change along the side of the vehicle.

In other embodiments, for example, a larger detection zone may be employed at a position including a blind spot so that the presence of a cyclist within the blind spot can be detected and a smaller detection zone may be employed at a position that is visible to the driver of the vehicle directly or through the side view mirror 10.

The system 4 may be activated in response to vehicle speed. For example the system 4 may be activated at or below a pre-determined speed. In this embodiment the system 4 may be activated if the vehicle speed is 10 mph or less but it will be understood this is not limiting and that the system 4 may be activated at other speeds. By activating the system 4 in response to vehicle speed, the system is automatically operable to sense the presence of a cyclist in the detection zone when travelling at low speeds and cannot be switched off by the driver of the vehicle. When travelling at higher speeds, the system is deactivated.

In a modification, the system 4 may be switched on and off manually. Such manual switching may over-ride automatic operation in response to vehicle speed and allow the driver to deactivate the system 4 when travelling at low speeds.

When the system 4 is activated, the sensors 12 are operable to detect the presence of a cyclist 6 within the detection zone 8 and send a signal to activate an audible warning that the cyclist should move away from the side of the vehicle 2.

The signal may be transmitted by a wired or wireless connection. It may be that a wireless radio frequency signal is employed although this is not essential. It may be that each sensor 12 has an associated audio device (not shown) that broadcasts a pre-recorded message in response to a signal from the sensor 12. The audio device may broadcast the message for a pre-set interval of time. Alternatively, the audio device may broadcast the message as long as the cyclist 6 remains within the detection zone 8 and stops broadcasting the signal when the cyclist 6 moves out of the detection zone 8. In a modification (not shown), a visible warning may be provided in place of or in addition to the audible warning.

It may be that each sensor 12 has an associated visual device such as a flashing light that is switched on in response to a signal from the sensor 12 and is switched off after a pre-set interval of time or when the cyclist moves out of the detection zone 8.

By providing each sensor 12 with an associated audio device and/or visual device, an audible and/or visible warning can be provided in the area where the cyclist 6 is detected.

Other arrangements of audio devices and/or visual devices may be employed. For example it may be that more than one audio device and/or visual device may be switched on when a cyclist 6 is detected within the detection zone 8 by any of the sensors 12.

The sensors 12 may also send a signal to activate an audible warning to inform the driver of the vehicle 2 of the presence of the cyclist 6 within the detection zone 8 and/or to check the side view mirror 10 on the side of the vehicle where the cyclist 6 has been detected. The signal may be transmitted by a wired or wireless connection. It may be that a wireless radio frequency signal is employed although this is not essential.

It may be that an audio device (not shown) is provided within the vehicle in the vicinity of the driver that broadcasts a pre-recorded message in response to a signal from any of the sensors 12. Where sensors 12 are provided on both sides of the vehicle 2, the audio device may distinguish between a signal from a sensor 12 on one side of the vehicle and a signal from a sensor 12 on the other side of the vehicle and broadcast the appropriate pre-recorded message. Alternatively, an audio device may be provided for the sensors on one side of the vehicle and a separate audio device may be provided for the sensors on the other side of the vehicle.

The audio device may broadcast the message for a pre-set interval of time. Alternatively, the audio device may broadcast the message as long as the cyclist 6 remains within the detection zone 8 and stops broadcasting the signal when the cyclist 6 moves out of the detection zone 8.

In a modification (not shown), the driver may be provided with a visible warning of the presence of a cyclist in the detection zone 8 in place of or in addition to the audible warning.

It may be that a visual device such as a flashing light is provided that is switched on in response to a signal from a sensor 12 and is switched off after a pre-set interval of time or when the cyclist moves out of the detection zone 8.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to detecting the presence of a cyclist within a detection zone along the side of a vehicle, it will be understood that the system could also be used to detect the presence of a pedestrian and provide an audible and/or visible warning to move away from the side of the vehicle. Various modifications and improvements that can be made to the road safety apparatus will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Thus, the warning to the driver may, in addition to providing information as to which side of the vehicle a person has been detected in the detection zone, may also provide information as to the location of the person within the detection zone. For example, each sensor may transmit a unique signal such that and the location of the person can be determined by identifying the sensor that has generated the signal. A test device may be provided for testing the system and indicating the condition of the system to the driver. For example, the test device may carry out a self-test protocol and provide a visual and/or audible indication of the system status. The self-test protocol may be activated manually and/or automatically, for example in response to the vehicle ignition being switched on. The system status may indicate if the system is operating correctly or malfunctioning. A visual indication of the system status may be provided by different coloured lights, for example green for pass and red for fail. An audible indication of the system status may be provided by different sounds, for example an intermittent sound for pass and a continuous sound for fail. The system may be operable in response to a fail status to prevent the vehicle being driven or to restrict the speed at which the vehicle can be driven.

A memory device may be provided for recording and storing details of each self-test and/or details of each activation of the system. Stored details may be recalled later if required for any reason to verify the correct functioning of the system when the vehicle is in use. Stored details may be "read only" to prevent changes being made to the information. The test device and/or memory device may be provided by a controller, for example an electronic controller. The controller may be programmable. The controller may include a microprocessor. The controller may control set-up and/or operation of the system. Apparatus according to the invention may be employed with apparatus comprising systems for detecting the presence of an obj ect or person within a detection zone at other positions around the vehicle. For example apparatus according to the invention may be employed on a vehicle having apparatus comprising a system having one or more sensors configured to detect an obj ect or person within a detection zone at the front and/or rear of the vehicle, for example when manoeuvring the vehicle. Such a system may be activated manually or automatically. Such a system may be configured to actuate the vehicle park and/or service brakes to stop the vehicle when an obj ect or person is detected within the detection zone. Such a system may be configured to release the brakes after a predetermined period of time to allow the vehicle to continue to move. Such a system may provide a visual and/or audible warning to the driver of the vehicle when an obj ect or person is detected. A system configured to detect an obj ect or person within a detection zone while reversing a vehicle may be activated when reverse gear is selected and may be deactivated when reverse gear is de-selected.

Features of any embodiment described herein may be employed separately or in combination with any other feature of the same or different embodiments and the invention extends to and includes all such possible selection and/or combination of features.

Other modifications and improvements to the invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.